| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
78fordwayne
Top Member
USA
2629 Posts |
 Posted - 12/12/2004 : 08:47:37 AM
|
Im surprized no one has said anything about this
Looks like a problem to me www.wtvt.com/investreptr/bus.html |
Robert B.
Last update: 7/1/10
|
|
|
Buskid
Top Member
USA
3337 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 08:49:50 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by 78fordwayne
Im surprized no one has said anything about this
Looks like a problem to me www.wtvt.com/investreptr/bus.html
We did say something about it, three years ago. There was a thread about that a couple years ago when the story was first made public. I'll try to find it for you. |
 |
|
|
78fordwayne
Top Member
USA
2629 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 08:54:11 AM
|
Im sorry I didnt notice the date.
Yes I would like to see more info on this.
Thanks BusKid |
Robert B.
Last update: 7/1/10
|
|
|
|
Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 08:56:34 AM
|
The media spiced up that story just like the Carpenter roof weld issue.
The Vistas were fine. I trust Thomas Built Buses over a bridge engineer. What does he know about buses? Afterall, Thomas is the one who manufactured buses for over 80 years.
And the Carpenter issue was REALLY blown out of proportion. In Houston, for instance, the media made them crush EVERY pre-Crown Carpenter, and RETIRE ALL the Crown by Carpenters, even though they had NO problem!
Anything having to do with school bus will be magnified a million times by the bias, liberal news media. |
|
|
|
|
eckbird
Active Member
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 10:43:04 AM
|
Thomas, hmm that seems to sum it up there in one word doesn't it?
The vista was a poor designed bus in my opinion, and the design flaws are showing now. Just look at the recalls on these buses, Vista leads the number for thomas! |
|
|
|
IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 11:02:30 AM
|
| Let's see, it is clear that was a structure problem, and a danger threat. Thomas's have to be the poor'st quality school buseson the market. Every Thomas ew have is in terrible conditition, and NO it is not because of our maintnance staff, they are exellent, we have 84 international wards running better than them, that seem more stable than the Thomas's. Finaly more people can view this problem, THEY ARE THE WORST. They have an uncomfortable ride, and are designed poorly!!!!!!! |
 bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
|
|
|
BPS_Driver
Advanced Member
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 11:55:51 AM
|
I disagree 100%. They test very in crash test statistics. Look at their recalls and you will they have less recalls than IC. I think that speaks for their reputation.
|
23 Million safe deliveries a day by all of us |
|
|
|
Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 12:13:00 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by IC-RE
Let's see, it is clear that was a structure problem, and a danger threat. Thomas's have to be the poor'st quality school buseson the market. Every Thomas ew have is in terrible conditition, and NO it is not because of our maintnance staff, they are exellent, we have 84 international wards running better than them, that seem more stable than the Thomas's. Finaly more people can view this problem, THEY ARE THE WORST. They have an uncomfortable ride, and are designed poorly!!!!!!!
Boy, I've never heard such a ridiculous post about Thomas before. That's just... yikes! I may love IC buses, but what you said is just total bullsh*t!
Designed poorly? Tell that to all the people who are delighted in the Thomas product.
Uncomfortable ride? Thomas buses are some of the most solid in school buses, EVEN the Vistas, which YES I have experience in riding, unlike you!
Don't blame Thomas for your problems, look at who spec'd them out. My bet is they don't have air ride, or other proper specs. |
|
|
|
|
Buskid
Top Member
USA
3337 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 12:32:55 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by IC-RE
Let's see, it is clear that was a structure problem, and a danger threat. Thomas's have to be the poor'st quality school buseson the market. Every Thomas ew have is in terrible conditition, and NO it is not because of our maintnance staff, they are exellent, we have 84 international wards running better than them, that seem more stable than the Thomas's. Finaly more people can view this problem, THEY ARE THE WORST. They have an uncomfortable ride, and are designed poorly!!!!!!!
And what's up with that? I hope that post was meant to be more sarcastic than serious.
Everything you've described in your post about why Thomas Built Buses are the "poorest quality" school buses on the market can all be related back to how the buses were spec'd. Most of the components mentioned [engines, transmissions, suspensions, etc.] aren't even manufactured by Thomas Built Buses.
The issue with the Thomas Vistas was made public, sensationalized and solved. It's been put to rest. That happened three years ago; it's old news.  |
|
|
|
BusFreak
Top Member
USA
761 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 12:37:13 PM
|
| I disagree with IC-REs post as well. Our Thomas buses are some of the most solid buses in the fleet. They ride like a dream, and the only problems come from the poor specs with Transmission. They are all spected with full air ride suspension, unlike the AmTrans, Internationals, and ICs which only have rear air ride. The 94s are spected with the ISC (great engine) while the 97s and 98s are spected with CAT 3126Bs, also good engines. The problem comes from the AT545s the specs allowed. That is the ONLY problem with those buses. Ive known drivers to keep their 94 Thomas ERs over taking new IC REs with AIR CONDITIONING because they are such great buses. I'm not saying that the AmTrans etc are not good buses, but one could argue that the Thomases are better than the first generations of AmTrans (99-2001) the county recieved with similar specs. |
= |
|
|
|
SchoolBusFan
Top Member
USA
1755 Posts |
|
|
IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2004 : 2:59:46 PM
|
| Busfreak, you are probably right, it is just that our thomas's to me are not as comfortable, and they rattly and squeak more than any inthe fleet. But that is just my opinion, I don't meant to argue with you guys, but RICH SOLANO, I have ridden on a Thomas Vista, and I have ridden on er's, and the FE. They, to me, just do not have as comfortable ride as our Amtrans and IC's. I ride on a 97 MVP ER almost twice a week for long rides, becasue my firend's dad drives one for the county, and we sometimes go with him, and even he says he on;y enjoys this bus becasue he in the past had to drive a 1987 Chevy Wayne that broke down more than once a month, so THAT IS JUST MY OPINION |
bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
|
|
|
Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
3862 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2004 : 2:35:22 PM
|
| Well let me defend my Thomases with the fact that they have proved the best buses on the market for our district. We've had an all-Thomas fleet since 1970 and have had great buses overall. Our dealer helps, too, and they do great work to back up their product. We have only switched manufacturers 1985 (four Blue Bird All American REs that were sold in 1988 because they were so displesing) and in 2003 (two Blue Bird International 3800s, which are already causing problems). I also think that the very reliable, 20 year old bus parked out in my driveway speaks for Thomas's great product. It's still running stong! |
Mike's Bus Yard - http://buses.zwebpages.com - Since 1999
|
|
|
|
IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2004 : 2:50:14 PM
|
| yes, but your bus is on a ford chasis, so your ford is eunning strong, our older Thomas's are in better cosmetic condition than our newer ones as well, I do like the older ones, I even used to favor them until we began to recieve amtran re's |
bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
|
|
|
Bus11
Senior Member
United States
170 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2004 : 4:46:41 PM
|
I like my Thomas/Ford still. Would be nice tho if it rode a bit smoother! 
Bus11 |
Wandering around the mountains in a 95 Thomas/Ford -
Wishing for a C2 !! |
|
|
|
IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2004 : 4:54:58 PM
|
| I too like the ford chassis from the 1980's, soem of the ford/waynes in our county ride smoother and quieter than our newer buses, just ask IC he drives one. |
bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Whats up with this??
